For all the advanced tech that the iPhone Fold will apparently debut, it could use a rather nostalgic unlocking method.
Rather than offering Face ID like Apple's recent iPhones, the first folding iPhone could instead feature Touch ID, in the form of a fingerprint scanner on the power button on the side of the phone.
Some have claimed that the iPhone Fold will offer under-display fingerprint scanning, using an ultrasonic sensor like we see on top Android phones such as the Galaxy S25. But, as Ming-Chi Kuo writes, this is unlikely due to the complexity of fitting the necessary parts into a foldable, and so he still believes a power button scanner is most likely.
A touching reunion
Touch ID disappeared from iPhones with the iPhone 16e, with all flagship iPhones having ditched the home button with the fingerprint scanner from the iPhone X onwards. Most iPads, all MacBooks, plus certain Apple-made keyboards retain Touch ID, but it's clear that Apple doesn't want its iPhones using the technology.
Under-display fingerprint scanners are the norm on Android phones, but they have yet to become common on foldable phones. These tend to use power button fingerprint scanners on the side of the phone instead, as the iPhone Fold is tipped to use.
It's a shame that Apple won't be able to leap ahead of its rivals in foldable technology on its first attempt, especially given how long it has taken Apple to get a foldable phone to market. Even if you don't believe any of the rumors saying the iPhone Fold's coming next year, it's still wild that we've had seven years of foldable phones without Apple trying to get involved.
As we just mentioned, we should see the iPhone Fold launch alongside the iPhone 18 series next year, going by the rumors. But don't look too far ahead — we're likely to see the iPhone 17 series launch at the Apple Awe Dropping event next week, featuring the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max as well as an all-new iPhone 17 Air.
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